Stamp-vending machine.



A. HALL. v

STAMP VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. I9I3.

1,21 6,799. Patented Feb;20, 1917.

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A. HALL.-

' STAMP VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nor. 9. 1913.

Paten'ted- Feb. 20, 1917.

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STAMP .VENDING MACHINE. I AVPPLIVCATION FILED ocr.9. 1913. I 1; 1,216,799. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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A HALL. STAMP VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9| I913.

1,21 6,799. N Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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ALFRED HALL, or PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

STAMP-VENDING Macrame.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb 2c, 1917.

Application filed October 9, 1913. Serial No. 794,201.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED HALL, residing at Painesville, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stamp-Vending Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to stamp vending machines and its object is to provide a machine of this character, of simple and effi cient construction, by means of which a proper number of stamps may be delivered to a purchaser upon the manipulation of an operating device.

The device is adapted to make use of a roll of stamps in which the successive stamps are separated from each other by a row of perforations. The feeding devices employed are adapted to bring the stamps toward a cutting device by engagement with these perforations, which insures absolute accuracy of delivery throughout the entire roll of stamps. Means are provided for preventing the drawing out of more than the proper number of stamps from the delivery .opening. These and many other features which go to make up a. highly eflicient device, are

embodied in my invention, which is hereinafter more fully described in connection with the drawings and the essential characteristics set forth in the claims. Although I have shown and described the stamp delivery associated with coin controlled mechanism, the latter forms the subject matter of my divisional application No. 864,248, filed September 30, 1914, where the same is claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device, complete; Fig. 2 is a front elevation 'with the front plate of the casing removed and a portion of the casing broken away for clearness; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the casing taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the upper part of the casing, showing a plan of the operatingmechanism; Fig. 5 is bottom plan of the forward part of the casing showing the mechanism operated by the coin; Fig. 6 is a perspective view 4 of the coin operating mechanism controlling the delivery of the one cent stamps, and

Fig. 7 is a detail of the 'coinreleasingdevice used in connection with the mechanism for the delivery of two cent stamps; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the carriage for feeding the stamps; Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a detail of a portion of the support for the roll of stamps.

The machine comprises generally; a casing, mechanism within the casing for delivering stamps, and a coin controlling means. The casing has a rectangular base- 10, having an open side into which is fitted a coin drawer 11. On this base are mounted a front plate 12 and side frames 14 and 15, in which are mounted plate glass windows 16. The rear of the upper portion of the casing thus formed is closed by a cover 18 having trunnions 19 hinged to the side frames and extending upwardly and forwardly and meeting, at 20, the rear edge of a top plate'portion 22 to which itmay be suitably secured in closed position by a lock indicated at 23. Vithin this casing, parts of which are hereinafter more fully described, are mounted means controlled by the coin to permit the operation of mechanism which feeds and severs the stamps and delivers them to a platform 25 through openings 26 and 27in the front of the casing. This mechanism is operated by the depression of hand levers 28, 28, pivoted at 30 and 31 to ears rising from the top plate 22. Each lever has an intermediate slot 32 in engagement with pins 33 in the upper ends of plungers and 35 projecting upwardly through the top of the casing and connected within the casing to the operating mechanism. On the forward end of each of these levers is rigidly carried an upwardly extending handle 36 adapted to 'be grasped to depress these levers, but having their upper ends brought substantially to a point, as at 37, to prevent the striking or jarring with the hand.

Passing now to a more detailed description of the parts; the front plate 12 is adapted to be secured by screws not shown, to the sides ofthe frames 14 and 15; on this plate 12 is mounted a plate 40, bearing printing which may read, Postage Stamps, or other desirable matter, and which is carried on a raised member 41 bringing the plateout from the plate of the casing, adding to the appearance thereof; Below this plate 40, are

coin slots 42 and 43. At each side of these coin slots are direction plates 44 and 45, below which are plates 46 and 47 bearing desirable printed matter pertaining to operation of themachine. This plate 12 rests on the horizontal plate 25 below which is an auxiliary front plate 48 having on its lower edge projecting lugs 75 engaging depressions 50 in a horizontal portion 51 of the baselO. The upper edge of this plate 48 is engaged by lugs 53 pressed out of the plate 25, which is secured near'each end by screws, to lugs 54 (Fig. 2) carried by forwardly projecting flanges 56 rigid with a vertical wall 60'. This wall is parallel with the front plate, is rigid with the top plate 22, and is provided with other forwardly projecting flanges 61 and 62 which are turned downwardly from theupper edge at 63 and 64, to form guides for the plunger's 34 and 35. The frames 14 and 15 are secured at their front sides by screws to the flanges 56, and rest at the bottom against the raised portion 66 of the base 10.

r A coin drawer V11, rests upon inwardly turned flanges 68 rigid in the bottom portion of the base 10 and is inserted through the open end 69 at the base' This drawer is preferably made of tough metal, formed with a bottom 70 and side walls 71. ,The opening 69 is closed by a plate 72 mounted on the side of the drawer adjacent this opening, and a suitable handle or knob 74 is riveted through this plate 7 2 and through the wall 71 at the open end of the base.

The raised portion 66 of the base is smaller than the lower portion, and the side walls are turned inwardly at 7 3 forming a shoulder supporting this portion and having openings which receive lugs 7 5 rigid on the side frames. Upwardly turned lugs 67 on the inside of these frames are adapted to be engaged by flanges 79 on the sides of the cover 18, when it is closed.

In order that the coin drawer and the cover 18 may be locked at once, by means of the lock 23, 1 provide bracket 7 6 secured to the outer wall of the coin drawer and havin a rearward y extendin aortion 77 7 h) b which is provided with a hole adapted to be engaged by a vertical, slidable pin 78. This pin 7 8 is slidably mounted in a bracket 80 and in a horizontal wall or floor 82, rigid with the raised portions 66 of the base 10. A spring 84 engages a shoulder formed by a reduced portion 85 of the pin, and tends to raise the pin out of engagement with the bracket 77 whenever a foot 86 carried by the cover 18, is raised from the head of the pin by swinging this cover open rearwardly. Whenever the cover is closed, it is only necessary to see that the drawer is closed so that the pin 7 8 will engage the bracket 77 when it is depressed by this foot 86, thus locking all the parts when the cover 18 is locked at 23. A pin 87 extending through the pin 78 is adapted to engage the floor 82 to limit the upward movement of the pin 78 under the influence of the spring.

By looking the cover closed, not only is the coin drawer securely locked, but the lugs 77 engaging the flange 79 and the lugs engaging the base prevent removing the side frames, even though the screws in them were removed. Accordingly, this construction provides a casing for my mechanism with which it is very diflicult to tamper for purposes of obtaining money or stamps by fradulent means.

Suitably mounted on the floor 82, at the intermediate portion of the rear of the machine, is an upright post 88 carrying at its upper end a cross rod 90 projecting equal distances from each side of the post; Pivotally carried on each outer end of this cross rod, is an arm 91 carrying a tube 92 extending inwardly to thepost 88 and forming a suitable mounting for the roll of stamps. Within this tube 92, is slidably mounted a plunger 93, pressed inwardly toward the post 88 by a spring 95 and having at its outer end a knob 94 At its inner end is a small projection 97 adapted to engage a hole in the side of the post 88 to hold the arm 91 and the tube 92 rigid in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 10. By pulling outwardly on the knob 94, the projection 97 is drawn out of engagement with the post 88, which allows the arm 91 to be swung rearwardly on its pivot 90.,so that a fresh roll of stamps may be placed on the tube 92 The stamps are preferably carried a short distance away from the post 88 on either side, and are held at the outer portion of the tubes 02 by means of arms 98 screwing into a collar 100 which is held in position against lateral shifting, by the engagement of the threaded ends of the arms, with a groove 101 in the tube 92. The arm 91 extends downwardly past this tube 92, as at 103, thus with the arms 98 forming a suitable guide above and below the center of the roll on both sides. A. detent roll 105 is carried by an arm 106. pivot-ally carried by the rod 90 and suitably spaced from the post by means of collars 108 and 109 on the rod 90, to bring the roll 105 against the stamps.

Longitudinally alined with the rolls of stamps indicated at 110 and 111, are feed tables 112 pivotally secured at their forward ends by screws 114, between guide plates 16. These guide plates rest on the floor 82, and are held in their upright position by suitable screws securing them to a block 117 resting on this floor. The feed table 112 stands normally in a horizontal position,

with its rear or free end resting on a slidable wedge 118 which is adapted to be moved rearwardly allowing the rear end of the feed table to drop, for the insertion of the end of anew roll of stamps.

A short rod 120 having a threaded engagement with the wedge 118, passes through a guide block 122 and carries a knurled knob 124 by which it may be slid through the block to move the wedge 118.

' and form guides for the stamp engaging A screw 123 threaded into the top of each of. these blocks, engages the rod to hold the wedge in the desired position.

The stamps are led downwardly to the feed tables 112 and then forwardly along the tables to knives 125 securely mounted on the wall 60, between the forward ends of the guide plates 116 and this wall. Between the guide plates 116 and adjacent their tops are cross members 126. Secured to the back of these cross members 126 are springs 127 having forwardly extending tongues 128, lying adjacent the guide plates 116.

Fitted loosely between each pair of the guide plates 116, and beneath the spring tongues 128, is a plate 130 having longitudinal rectangular slots forming a. tongue 132 adjacent each side, and another intermediate tongue 133, as shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 9. The rectangular slotted portions stand over grooves 134 and permit the pas-' sage and free movement of feeding fingers 135, which are adapted to engage the perforations of the stamps, to move them forwardly upon the forward movement of the carriage 136.

Each plate 130 is held against longitudinal movement by means of a screw 137, threaded into thejplate and passing lo'osely through the cross member 127. The stamps pass beneath these plates 130 and are held against the feed tables 112 by the pres-- sure of the spring tongues 128.

In the upper portion of the guide plates 116, are guide slots adapted to be engaged by laterally projecting portions 141 of the slide carriages 136. In these slide carriages, are formed openings or cut away portions 140 which have parallel sides fingers 135. These fingers are pivoted on a small shaft 145, running laterally through the block, and are pressed downwardly by means of comb springs 146 mounted in these openings 143 and having tines 148 each pressing against one of the fingers 135. The fingers 135, are sharpened and point-- ed forwardly, as at 149, and are arranged so that their points are closer together than the perforations between the postage stamps, to insure several of each group of fingers engaging some ofthe perforations,

on each forward movement of the carriage. Rearward projections 150 of the fingers 135 are adapted to engage a shoulder 151, of the carriage, thus preventing too great downof the plungers.

ward movement of the fingers around shaft 145.

Guided by slots154 in each carriage, is

the

the end of a lever 155, having a slot 156 engaging a pin 158, whereby the carriage is reciprocated longitudinally. These levers are pivoted at 159 and 160 to projections-162 madev rigid with the wall 60 of the casing. The middle portion of each lever is offset and has a cam-shaped slot 164, adapted to be engaged by vertically movable studs 165 carried by rearwardly extending projections 166, on the plungers 34 and 35.

Now when the carriage 136 is brought forwardly from its normal position at the rear'of-the stroke, these fingers'which are adapted to act yieldingly, independent of each other, engage the perforations of the stamp strip, and bring it forward a disby an enlarged portion forming a head 172 on each of the plungers. The knives 125 have their cutting edges formed in openings 174 through a rectangular plate 175, secured to the wall 60 by suitable screws. Leading upwardly from the openings 174 are vertical slots 17 6'all0wing the passage of the projections 166 on the plungers. The sides of the openings 174 and the slots 176 overhang rectangular openings 178 'made through the wall 60. The knives are loosely carried on pins 17 3 in the heads 17 2, and are pressed outwardly by means ofsprings 179 causing the knives 170 to bear against the overhanging portions of the plate at all times, insuring the knife 170 engaging'the cutting edge 125 on the downward movement of the plunger.

The-lower ends of the plungers are guided byprojections 180 rigid with the plate 160.

Elastic bumper pads 181 on the heads 172 engage these projections, limiting the upward movement of the plungers under the influence of springs 182, attached to the heads 72, and .to screws 183 on the wall 60. Elastic pads 184 on the top plate engage the levers 28, to limit thejdownward movement Secured to one side of each of the heads 172,

are blocks 185 forming shoulders adapted to be engaged by dogs 186 pivotally carried by the wall 60, and normally pressed-into I their pivots and carry at their rear ends trough-like pertions 19%, standing under one side of the coin chute 195. The rear end of each of these levers is adapted to be depressed, by the weight of the coin arriving at the lower end of the coin chute, as at 196, raising the corresponding rod 188 and the dog 186, out of engagement with the block 185' allowing that plunger to be depressed. The depression of a plunger, operates through mechanism to be described, to release a lever 198 supporting one side ofthe coin, allowing the spring 187 to return the dog to engage the shoulder 18 5, holding the plungerin its up position when the coinis released.

In the device isadapted for the sale of one cent and two cent postage stamps, there being four one sertion of a nickel, or two two cent stamps. As arranged, the mechanism is adapted to 1move the feeding carriage a distance equal to the width of two stamps, accordingly, for the one cent side, it is necessary to depress the lever and plunger twice, in order that four stamps may be delivered. On

the two cent side, however, it is only necessary to depress the plunger once, after which the dog 186 engages the block 185 to hold the plunger in the up position, 'until another coin is inserted.

To allow the plunger 34 of the one cent side, to be depressed twice, upon the insertion of one coin, I provide an arrangement of levers shown in Figs. 2, 3, 41- and 6, for

holding the dog out of engagement until the second depression of the plunger. The lever 198 standing underneath the edge of the coin chute, is pivoted to the floor at 200. A tension spring 201 attached to thislever and to a screw 202, tends to pull the lever 198 forwardlyagainst the pin 204, which limits its movement. In this position it stands just under one edge or beneath one side of the coin chute, so that a coin coming to the lower end of the chute will engage the lever 198 at one side and the end of the lever 191, at the other side, which depresses the lever 191, raising dog 186 and allowing the plan 'ger to be depressed as described. Accordembodiment herein described, my 7 cent stamps delivered on the iningly, it is desirable to release the coin, by moving the lever 198, on the second depres sion of this plunger. A link 205 is pivotally attached at 206 to a lever 209, having a laterally projecting arm 212 extending forwardly through an opening in the wall 66 of the base 10.

Pivotally carried at 215 ion the front of the wall 60, is a'bell crank 216 having an arm 218 adapted to engage the arm 212 of the lever and having its other arm 219 adapted to engage alatch hook 220, pivoted at 222 to the wall 60. Adjacent the pivot of the lever 216 and the upper portion of the arm 218, are notches or steps 223 adapted to be engaged by a spring finger 225, carried by the plunger 34:. The latch 220 has a projection 22'? extending upwardly and laterally toward the plunger and adapted to be engaged when swung downwardly by a fin ger 228 carried by the head 172 of the plunger 34. The bell crank 216 stands normally with the arm 219 abutting a pin 230, under the influence of a spring 231, attached to the arm 219 and the casing. A spring 232 attached to the latch 220 and to the wall 60 presses the latch normally toward the arm 219. Now the operation of this mechanism just described, is as follows:

A coin reaching the lower end of the coin chute, comes onto the trough-shaped end of the lever 191 at one side and the lever 198 at the other side, which presses the lever 191, raising the dog 186 through the rod 188, leaving the plunger 34 free to be depressed.

' Now on the first downward movement of the plunger, the finger 225 engages the lower step 223 of the bell crank 216 anddepresses it to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, that is where the arm 219 engages the catch 220. In this position, however, the arm 218 is not yet brought against the ar1n212 of the lever 209, and the coin still rests in the same position with the lever 191 depressed and the dog 186 out of the path of the block 185 on the plunger. On the second downward movement of the plunger, the finger 225 engages the upper step 223 of the bell crank 215, which is brought into the path of this finger by the swinging of'the bell crank about its pivot, and the arm 218 is then brought into contact with the arm 212 and the lever 209 is pressed rearwardly, which through the link 205, moves'the lever 198 rearwardly against the tension 5 of the spring 201, allowing the coin to drop between this lever and the lever 191.

In order that the coin will have time to drop, however quickly the plunger is moved, I provide a finger 236 secured to theside of the head 171 of the plunger and extending into the path of the lever 212 to prevent its returning until the plunger has moved an appreciable distance on the up stroke. This llt provides a sufiicient time interval for the coin to drop. The arm 219 of the bell crank lever, is prevented from catching the second lever, brings this projection 227 into the path'of the finger 228, which holds the hook out of the path of the lever 219until the spring 231 has returned the bell crank lever to normal position. A cam 236 (Fig. 6) mounted in front of the bell crank lever, is adapted to engage the lower end of the finger 225 and cause it to spring to one side, out of engagement with each of the steps 223, when the plunger is at the lower end of the stroke. On the second stroke of the plunger, this allows the bell crank to return to normal position, by means of the spring 231, while the latch hook is held out of the path of the arm 219 by meansof the'finger 228, just described.

After the delivery of the two cent stamps,-

however, the coin is released on the first downward movement of the plunger, allowing the dog 186 to catch again on the block 185 on the plunger. The lever 199 is intermediately pivoted at 240, and is held in-its normal position beneath one side of the coin chute by means of a spring 241 similar to the spring 201 whichhold's the lever against the pin 242, carried by the floor 82. Pivotally secured to the other end of the lever 199, is a fiat rod'244 extendingthrough the front wall 66 of the base, and having a slot 245 at its forward end, adapted to be. engaged bythe cam 247 (Figs. 2 and 7) carried by the head 172. This cam is provided with a cam surface 248 extending forwardly and upwardly for a portion of its length and then vertically, forming a rest portion 249 which comes into engagement with the forward end of the slot in the rod 244 when the plunger is down. This rest portion provides an appreciable time interval during which the lever 199 is swung back, insuring the dropping of the coin.

The distance between 191 and the levers 198 and 199, is great enough that a one cent coin placed in the coin chute will pass freely between'them without depressing the lever 191, thus dropping harmlesslv into the coin drawer. To insure a complete stroke, that is the downward and upward movement of the plungers, I provide in the side of each plunger a vertical plate 250, secured by screws 252, and each having teeth 254 for a distance of its length equivalent to the movement of the plunger. At each end of the series of teeth, is provided a hole 256. A reversible dog the end of the lever 257 pivotally carried by the plate 60 is mounted adjacent each of these plates 250 and has a nose 260 adapted to engage the teeth 254. Each dog is provided with an arcual shaped back 262 against'which rests a leaf spring 263 carried in a slotted pin 264 and having an upwardlyextending portion 265 engaging the depending flanges 63 and 64. This spring tends to keep the nose of the dog in a horizontal position. Now when the plunger is pressed downwardly, the nose of the dog is pressed downwardly, allowing the teeth'254, to pass freely, but preventing the return of the plunger'until the upper 1016 256 has come opposite the nose of the dog, which allows it to turn past the center of the dog and allows the upward movement of the plunger. The teeth 254 are too near the pivot points of the dogs to allow this reversing movement until the holes 256 are reached. Accordingly,- both on the up and down stroke the nose of the dog can ride freely over the teeth 254 in one direction only, and in the opposite direction the plunger is at once looked against movement. It will be seen that the complete operation of the mechanism delivering the stamps and themechanism releasing the coin is neces sarily insured when the plunger is once started in its downward movement.

The space between the wall 60 and the front plate 12is such that the plunger just fits between them. To reduce the friction on the front side of the plunger, howevenl provide a roller 268 in each plunger, and mount it on pins 269 so set into the plunger that the forward side of the roller ex tends just beyond the forward side of the plunger, thus normally holding the plungers slightly away .from the plate 12 reducing the friction between the plungers and this plate. V I

The coin chute 195 extends from slots 42 and 43 in the front plate 12 inwardly, with a slight downward incline, and then straight -down to the position over the levers 191 and 198, as described. This coin chute is pref erably made of small square bars 270 and 271. having a shallow groove formed in one side adapted to engage the edge of the coin. These bars are supported at their upper forward ends by passing them through a plate 273 having square openings through which the bars pass and slots connecting these openings through which the coins pass. This plate 273 is secured by screws to the wall 60. A similar plate 274 is screwed to the floor 82 securely holding the lower end of the bars. At their intermediate portion they are braced by pairs of straps 275 having depressed portions 276 engaging the sides of the bars, having their I outer ends 277 secured together by screws, and having their intermediate portions 278 these dogs away from the stamp strips;

cordingly, I provide fingers 297 carried by separated sufficiently to allow a coin to pass freely. A distance piece 280 is secured between the inner straps 277 of each pair and is adapted to brace one coin chute with the other.

Between the wall 60 and the front plate 12, I place a magnet 283, preferably circular in form, and having its ends coming between the bars 270 and 271 of the coin chute, but just out of the path of the coin. This magnet is adapted to attract and intercept any iron or steel slug or washer. When a metallic slug of this nature is placed in the slots 42 or 43, it is drawn aside by the magnet, its lower edge sliding over a cut away portion 28%, on each of the bars 270 adjacent the magnet, which allows the slug to come into contact with an arm 285 carried by a lever 286 pivotally mounted adjacent the coin chutes. Each lever 286 has an upwardly extending portion 288, whichis bent inwardly to stand adjacent the plate 273. N ow, when the slug abuts the arm 285, it swings the lower end of the lever 286 outwardly and the upper arm 288 inwardly to intercept this slug, sothat it is impossible to push past this stop by means of any'pointed instrument which might be inserted into the slot.

Pivotally carried on a projection 299, eX- tending rearwardly from the carriage 136, are two dogs 291 having their lower ends bluntly pointed, as at 293, adapted to engage the stamp strip 110. Now, if before the stamps are severed, the ends projecting from the casing are grasped, with the intention of pulling the stamps from the roll without severing them, these points 293 will engage the stamp strip, grip it between the dogs and the table, and prevent the strip being pulled forwardly. This makes it impossible to obtain more stamps than would be ejected by the proper depression of the plunger after inserting the coin. A pin 295 having each end mounted in these dogs provides a suit;

able anchorage for a spring 296 tending to draw the dogs toward'the carriage, to grip the stamps, while permitting the carriage to slide forward a short distance at the begin ning of its stroke before the fingers engage the perforations of the stamps. At the forward end of the stroke, it is desirable to raise the projections 166 of the plungers. The lower end of each of these fingers is adapted t c-engage a cam surface on the dogs which swings them outwardly, where they are held by means of pins 299 extending through the dogs and having their inner ends rounded to engage the slightly projecting ends of a plate 300, secured to the rear of the projection 290. Leaf springs 302 carrying these pins 299 are secured to the sides of the dogs and act to press them inwardly. Now, the downward movement of the plunger at the forward end of the stroke of the carriage swings these dogs rearwardly and upwardly by means of the fingers 297, allowing the pins 299 to engage the rear side of the plate 300 which holds them in the rear position shown in Fig. 3 until the carriage comes to the end of its stroke, and where they are pressed inwardly and downwardly again, by abutting the heads of screws 304k mounted in the cross members 126.

7 From the foregoing description it will be seen that my device provides an efiicient and simple stamp vending machine, attractive in appearance, which does not easily get out of order, and one from which it is diflicult to secure money or stamps by fraudulent means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 7

1. In a stamp vending machine, the combination of a casing, a reciprocating plunger within the casing, a support for a roll of stamps, a normally horizontal feed table pivoted at the forward end, guides on either side of the feed table, a knife at the forward end of the feed table, a movable wedge supporting the rear end of therfeed table, a knife carried by the plunger cooperating with the knife at the end of the feed table, a series of fingers adapted to engage the perforations of the'stamps, a carriage carrying said fingers,a lever having a cam surface pivoted to the casing and connected to the carriage, and means carried'by the plunger engaging said cam surface. 7

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support for a roll of stamps, a feed table, guides on either side of the feed table, a reciprocating carriage sup ported'by said guides, fingers individually pivoted to the carriage adapted to engage the perforations of the stamps, separate movable means on the carriage preventing a forward movement of the stamps with relation to the carriage, a plunger, and mecha nism connecting the plunger and the car riage whereby it isvreciprocated.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support for a roll of stamps, a feed table, a reciprocating carriage, a reciprocating plunger, connections between the plunger and the carriage whereby the stamps are moved forwardly when the plunger is operated, means for severing a stamp from the roll at the end of the stroke of the plunger, means on the carriage engaging the stamps to prevent them being drawn forwardly past the carriage, and 4.

stamps, a feed table, guides on either side of the feed table, a reciprocating carriage supported by said guides, fingers pivoted to the carriage adapted to engage the perforations of the stamps, a dog pivoted to the carriage adapted to slide freely across the stamps on the forward movement but preventing a forward movement of the stamps with relation to the carriage, means for raising said dog when the carriage is in its forward position, means for bringing it again to active position when the carriage is moved to its rearward position, a plunger, and mechanism connecting the plunger and the carriage whereby it is reciprocated.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support for a roll of stamps, a feed table, guides on either side of the feed table, a reciprocating carriage supported by said guides, fingers carried by the carriage and adapted to engage the perforations of the stamps to feed them across said table, a plate resting on the stamps above the table and having a slotted portion admitting the ends of the fingers, a spring having tongues adapted to press downwardly on said plate at either side of said opening, a plunger, and means whereby the movement of the plunger reciprocates the carriage.

6. In a stamp vending machine, the combination of a plunger, a feed table for stamps, a support for a stamp roll comprising a shaft for supporting the roll, a pivoted arm carrying said shaft, a post carrying said arm, a latch adapted to engage the post whereby it may be swung away from the post to receive a new roll.

7. In a stamp vending machine, the combination of a plunger, a feed table for stamps, a support for a roll of stamps comprising a tube for supporting the roll, an

arm carrying said tube, a post pivotally car-- rying said arm, a plunger within said tube adapted to engage the post, and a detent roller carried by said post adapted to rest against the roll of stamps.

8. In a stampvendingmachine, the combination of a casing comprising a base having an open side, a rectangular raised portion at the top of the base forming a shoulder having depressions therein, side frames having lugs adapted to engage said depressions, a front wall having forwardly extending flanges abutting said side frames, a rearwardly extending-top, a front plate adapted to be placed on said flange, a cover pivoted to the side frames adjacent the top of the base having an inwardly extending flange, lugs on the side frames adapted to be engaged by said flange, and a lock adapted to secure said cover to the rearwardly projecting top.

9. In a stamp vending machine, the combination of a casing comprising a base hav-.

ing an'open side, a drawer in the base, a rectangular raised portion at the top of the base forming a shoulder having depressions therein, side-frames havinglugs adapted to engage said depressions, a front wall having a forwardly extendingfiange abutting said side frames, a rearwardly extending top, a front plate adapted tobe .placed'on said flange, a cover pivoted to the side frames adjacent the top of the base having an inwardly extending flange, lugs on the side frames adapted to be engaged by said flange, a lock adapted to secure said cover. to the rearwardly projecting top, and means whereby the cover locks the drawer.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a casing, a reciprocating plunger, means for feeding stamps from a roll consequent upon the movement of the plunger, a handle for the plunger outside therefor, a reciprocatlng meansadapted to engage the stamps in such a manner as to accurately feed them forwardly, means normally perventing forward movement of the stamps with relation to reciprocating means,

vmeans operatively connecting the reciprocating means with the actuating device, and

means for severing the stamps on the line of their perforations.

13. In a stamp vendingmachine, the combination with a support for a strip of stamps, a guide table for the stamps, a reciprocating carriage adjacent the guide table, means for operating the carriage, depressible projections mounted on the carthe stamps on the forward movement of the carriage, depressible means on the carriage normally engaging the stamps, and means for releasing such engagement on the rearward movement of the carriage.

lit. In a stamp vending machine, the combination of a support for a strip of stamps, a guide for the stamps, a carriage mounted to reciprocate along said guide, a series of forwardly projecting individually depressible fingers adapted to engage the perforas tions between the stamps on the forward riage and adapted to slide on the strip of stamps and engage the perforations between 1 In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix movement of the carriage, a member pivmy s1gnature 1n the presence of tWo W1toted to the carriageand normally engaging the stamps to prevent movement of the nesses. stamps With relation to the carriage, and v ALFRED HALL.

5 means for releasing the engagement of such Witnesses:

JUSTIN W. MAOKLIN,

member from the stamps on the rearward BRENNAN B. WEST.

movement of the carriage.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

